another thought - if you hve lots of photos of you and your friend how about getting her a digital frame and download lots of photos of the fun times you have had together.
sorry to hear about your friends Dad - this happened to me and it's really hard being here when you know what your Mum is going through.
As far as the other comment is concerned I think it was said in a jolly way - i thought it was quite witty.
How about a framed picture of you too with a blinged out frame. When I think of Dubai, I think of sparkles - shoes, phones, any opportunity to put diamond like stuff on it. Once a friend gave me a stapler with little swarovski's on it, and I thought "how dubai"!
These are great ideas - huge thanks!
As for the snide remark, she's going home to look after her mother after the recent death of her father. But good to see where some people's values lie.
<em>edited by Akhmatova on 15/04/2011</em>
Saw lovely handcrafted leather Falcon Hoods in a little shop near Dreamgirls in Satwa.
You can even get little stands for them. They looked very decorative and would be unique as a pressie IMHO :)
How about a really nice framed photo from the photo place in the Madinat can't remember the nMe but they are limited edition prints of photos taken around the city.
Edited to add it's gallery one! http://www.g-1.com/Pictures-of-Places/157/Burj-Al-Arab.aspx
<em>edited by Clairehdp on 15/04/2011</em>